Innovation as Competition

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Overview

Addressing the theme of Innovation as competition, Australia’s Asian Future Summit 2017 will bring together policymakers, leaders in regional and Australian business, academics and pioneering entrepreneurs for a frank debate about the role Australia can play in boosting Asia’s capacity for innovation. How can Australia compete with Asian countries that significantly outspend it in research and development (R&D)? How can the country export its capabilities in biotech, fintech and agribusiness, along with the strengths of its sophisticated health-care system, to a varied region that in some places has already leapfrogged it? And what can Australia learn from pioneering Asian entrepreneurs about how to capture value from some of the largest markets in the world?

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

Network with 160+ senior executives who are driving the innovation agenda in Australia

Discover how technology is disrupting Australia’s economy

Learn how Australia can use innovation to pioneer new industries

Hear success stories from public-private partnerships that have led the commercialisation of new technologies

Showcase your competitive advantage and find new partnerships that will help you grow internationally

Why attend

Innovation as Competition: Australia’s Asian Future Summit 2017 will bring together policymakers, leaders in regional and Australian business, academics and pioneering entrepreneurs for a frank debate about the role Australia can play in boosting Asia’s capacity for innovation

Featured topics

Australian innovation in a drawbridge-up world

Technology and the transformation of Australia’s economy

Australia v Asia: Finance disrupted

Rotating exchange: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

“Austech” and the driving force of new industries like biotech, health tech and e-health

Collaboration between the private sector and academia to commercialise new technologies

Australia’s place in an innovative world: How can it compete?

Audience testimonials

“The event has been well organised with diversified and rich contents” Vice-president, IT Asia-Pacific, Resmed

“Very informational and helpful for business.” Head of corporate and institutional banking, ICBC

Speakers

Julie Bishop

Minister for foreign affairs, Australia

Julie Bishop

Minister for foreign affairs, Australia

Mathias Cormann

Minister for finance, Australia

Mathias Cormann

Minister for finance, Australia

Mathias Cormann has been the minister for finance since September 2013. He also appointed as the deputy leader of the government in the Senate in September 2015. He has represented the state of Western Australia in the Senate since June 2007.

In opposition, Mr Cormann held the positions of shadow parliamentary secretary for health administration (2008–09), shadow minister for employment participation, apprenticeships and training (2009–10), and shadow assistant treasurer, shadow minister for financial services and superannuation (2010–13). He also chaired the Senate Select Committees on Fuel and Energy (2008–10) and the Scrutiny of New Taxes (2010–11).

He has worked as a ministerial chief of staff to WA state government ministers, as senior adviser to then Western Australian Premier Richard Court and as an adviser to then Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison. Between 2003 and 2007 he worked for major Western Australian health insurer HBF in a range of senior management roles, including as general manager, HealthGuard, and as general manager of HBF Health Insurance.

Having joined the Liberal party in Western Australia in 1996, Mr Cormann was elected senior vice-president of the Perth division in 2000, state vice-president in 2003 and state senior vice-president in 2004, a responsibility he fulfilled until March 2008.

Before migrating to Perth from Belgium, Mr Cormann graduated in law from the University of Leuven.

Kelly O’Dwyer

Assistant treasurer and minister for revenue and financial services, Australia

Kelly O’Dwyer

Assistant treasurer and minister for revenue and financial services, Australia

Larry Marshall

Chief executive, CSIRO

Larry Marshall

Chief executive, CSIRO

Larry Marshall is chief executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst. For almost a century, CSIRO has translated excellent science into profound impact for the benefit of all Australians and the world. This impact has come in the form of fast Wi-Fi, plastic banknotes, extended-wear contact lenses and Aerogard insect repellent, just to name a few.
Dr Marshall is a scientist, technology innovator and business leader with a wealth of experience in creating new value and impact with science. He began his career in the US, licensing his work with lasers to create a range of health-care solutions in ophthalmology. He has held senior leadership positions, including as founder and as CEO, at companies in biotechnology, photonics, telecommunications and semiconductors, including Light Solutions, Iridex, Iriderm, Lightbit, Translucent, AOC, Intersymbol and Arasor. He was managing director of Southern Cross Ventures, an early-stage venture-capital firm based in Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Sydney, specialising in growing Australian technology companies in Asia and the US.
He has produced more than 100-peer reviewed publications and conference papers, holds 20 patents, and has served on 20 boards of high-tech companies operating in the US, Australia and China. He received his PhD in physics at Macquarie University, completing part of it while studying at Stanford University in the US.

Peter Coleman

Managing director and chief executive officer, Woodside Energy

Peter Coleman

Managing director and chief executive officer, Woodside Energy

Peter Coleman has 33 years’ experience in the global oil and gas industry, covering Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australasia. Mr Coleman has been managing director and chief executive officer of Woodside since joining the company in May 2011. He began his career with Exxon and stayed with the company until joining Woodside.
Mr Coleman is chairman of the Australia-Korea Foundation, chairman of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations and adviser to the Asia Society. He is a member of the board of the University of Western Australia Business School and of the executive committee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Council, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australia-India Chief Executive Officers’ Forum and Monash Engineering Foundation.
Mr Coleman graduated with a bachelor of engineering from Monash University in 1983 and has a master of business administration from Deakin University. He has completed advanced management training at the University of Virginia, Thunderbird Management School and Columbia University.

Daniel Petre

Co-founder, AirTree Ventures

Daniel Petre

Co-founder, AirTree Ventures

Joanna Batstone

Chief technology officer, Australia and New Zealand, IBM

Joanna Batstone

Chief technology officer, Australia and New Zealand, IBM

Joanna Batstone has held numerous technical and executive leadership roles in IBM's services and software businesses in the US and Europe. More than half of her career in IBM has been in research: she was a director at the TJ Watson Research Center in New York and now is the vice-president and lab director for IBM Research in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Batstone is also the chief technology officer for IBM A/NZ.
She has published over 80 papers, organised many industry conference symposia and is a popular keynote speaker at events around the world. Most recently, Dr Batstone was announced as honorary enterprise professor at the University of Melbourne. She is a member of the Innovation Expert Panel for the government of Victoria and serves on the advisory board of the NSW Data Analytics Centre.
Dr Batstone received a BSc in chemical physics and a PhD in physics from the University of Bristol, UK.

Sarah Adam-Gedge

Managing director and corporate vice-president, Avanade Australia

Sarah Adam-Gedge

Managing director and corporate vice-president, Avanade Australia

As managing director and corporate vice-president of Avanade Australia, Sarah Adam-Gedge leads a consulting business dedicated to digital innovations that realise results for Avanade’s clients and their customers through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem. Ms Adam-Gedge is fascinated by the impact of new technologies not only in problem solving and enabling opportunities but also in how innovation affects the next generation of workplace. Her vast professional-services executive leadership experience, extends across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America at the highest levels, has prepared her for a fulfilling, fast paced and growing role. She is passionate about developing her team, organisational capability and trail blazing with applying the new for specific outcomes. Ms Adam-Gedge is a currently non-executive director of Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Flavia Tata Nardini

Chief executive officer, Fleet Space Technologies

Flavia Tata Nardini

Chief executive officer, Fleet Space Technologies

Space engineer Flavia Tata Nardini began her career at the European Space Agency before joining TNO to apply her technical knowledge to advanced space-propulsion engineering projects. In 2015, she co-founded Fleet to solve the issue facing businesses globally over the next decade: how to connect the more than 75bn connected devices expected to come online over the next decade, simply and cheaply.

Kate Morris

Founder and chief executive officer, Adore Beauty

Kate Morris

Founder and chief executive officer, Adore Beauty

Girish Ramachandran

President, Asia-Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services

Girish Ramachandran

President, Asia-Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services

As president of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Asia Pacific, Girish Ramachandran is responsible for business operations in 12 countries in the regions of Australia and New Zealand, ASEAN, Greater China and Korea. Mr Ramachandran is based in Singapore, the headquarters of TCS Asia Pacific, where he oversees over 25,000 employees covering the region.
Mr Ramachandran joined TCS in 1994 and has held a number of key portfolios in the organisation. Prior to TCS Asia Pacific, he served as corporate vice-president in the CEO’s office at TCS House in Mumbai, where he was responsible for global strategic business initiatives. Before that, he was head of TCS Europe (nine years), and TCS Middle East, Africa and Mediterranean (two years), where he grew the business multifold and was instrumental in developing many key customer relationships with leading global brands. Other roles have included head of the company’s business-intelligence practice worldwide as well as executive sponsor of numerous global customer relationships.
Mr Ramachandran serves on a number of executive boards, including at the Europe-India Institute and the International Business Foundation Amsterdam. He is chairman of the Benelux chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry and a board member of Kooh Sports.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer technology from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, and a master’s degree in management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. He is a recipient of the Frans Banninck Cocq Medal from the mayor of Amsterdam. He is a frequent guest lecturer at universities across Europe and Asia Pacific.

Gerard Florian

Group executive, technology, ANZ

Gerard Florian

Group executive, technology, ANZ

Gerard Florian has been group executive technology at ANZ since January 2017. Mr Florian is responsible for defining ANZ’s technology strategy and building and managing ANZ’s technology infrastructure. This includes overseeing the development of new technologies, implementing existing technologies to help the bank reach its strategic goals, and creating systems and processes to make the best use of ANZ’s resources. He has also been a member of ANZ’s technology and digital business advisory panel since it was established in 2015.
Mr Florian has worked in technology for more than 30 years. He was previously chief strategy officer for the global cloud business unit at Dimension Data, where he was instrumental in the establishment of a portfolio of cloud-enabled managed services operating on a global platform. Prior to that, he was chief technology officer and chief marketing officer for Dimension Data’s Australian division.

Greg Moshal

Founder and joint chief executive officer, Prospa

Greg Moshal

Founder and joint chief executive officer, Prospa

Carrie Law

Chief executive, Juwai.com

Carrie Law

Chief executive, Juwai.com

Simon Cant

Managing director, Reinventure Group

Simon Cant

Managing director, Reinventure Group

Simon Cant is co-founder and managing partner of Reinventure. Founded in 2013, Reinventure is a corporate venture fund with $100m under management, bringing together the best of independent venture capital and corporate venturing with Westpac as the primary investor. To date, the portfolio has 16 ventures focused on fintech and adjacent areas.
Mr Cant is also the founding president of FinTech Australia, the industry’s peak representative body, and a member of the treasurer’s FinTech Advisory Group.
Mr Cant has built his career in venture and innovation, including advising companies such as Westpac, NAB, Suncorp, Fairfax, News APN and Tennis Australia as well as being a founding team member at Social Ventures Australia, Tinshed Angel Group and ninemsn.

Alan Mackay-Sim

Emeritus professor, Griffith University and 2017 Australian of the Year

Alan Mackay-Sim

Emeritus professor, Griffith University and 2017 Australian of the Year

Alan Mackay-Sim is a neuroscientist and stem cell scientist. His research career has focused on how the sensory neurons in the nose are replaced and regenerated from stem cells. He is a world leader in spinal cord injury research. He led the Brisbane team in a world-first clinical trial in which the patient’s own olfactory cells were transplanted into their injured spinal cord in the first stages of a therapy to treat human paraplegia. ProfessorMackay-Sim established the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research in 2006. He developed an adult stem cell bank from over 300 people with different neurological conditions including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, mitochondrial mutation disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia, ataxia telangiectasia and motor neuron disease. These stem cells are used to identify the biological bases of neurological diseases using genomics, proteomics and cell function assays, and this work is leading to new drug therapies. He was named 2017 Australian of the Year.

Jan Janssen

Senior vice-president, design and development, Cochlear

Jan Janssen

Senior vice-president, design and development, Cochlear

Jan Janssen leads a team of over 300 highly qualified engineers and scientists who implement Cochlear’s R&D strategy. This includes responsibility for identifying and developing cutting-edge technologies and commercial products. Mr Janssen joined Cochlear in 2000 as head of the Cochlear Technology Centre based in Belgium. He previously worked with Philips Electronics, where he was involved in R&D in the fields of high-tech electronics and cochlear implants. He was promoted to senior vice-president, design and development, in 2005.

Wendy Umberger

Professor, agricultural and food economics, The University of Adelaide

Wendy Umberger

Professor, agricultural and food economics, The University of Adelaide

Wendy Umberger is the foundation executive director of the Centre for Global Food and Resources at the University of Adelaide. She was the 2016–17 president of the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. She is a fellow of Food Standards Australia New Zealand and serves on the governance board of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics and the editorial board of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. Her behavioural-economics research uses innovative methods to understand drivers and implications of changing consumer and producer behaviour on food systems. She is also studying the impact of urbanisation, modern retail transformation and development programmes on food consumption patterns, diet quality, and longer-run health and livelihood implications across Australasia. Ms Umberger holds a BS in animal science (1996) and an MS in economics (1998) from South Dakota State University and a PhD in agricultural economics (2001) from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Peter Nathan

Chief executive, Asia-Pacific, The a2 Milk Company

Peter Nathan

Chief executive, Asia-Pacific, The a2 Milk Company

Peter Nathan joined the Group in 2007 and took on the role of chief executive of the Australia and New Zealand region for The a2 Milk Company in 2010. In 2017 his responsibilities were expanded to include management of the group’s business in China as well as Australia and New Zealand. During his time with the company, Mr Nathan has led the successful re-launch of a2MC-branded milk in the Australian market, which was subsequently globalised, and also the successful launch of the a2 Platinum® infant-formula brand. He has over 25 years’ experience working in the FMCG industry. Mr Nathan has previously held senior marketing and sales roles for Gillette and Colgate-Palmolive in Australia and Asia and was general manager of Freedom Foods Group.

Don Meij

Don Meij

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison

Agenda

Registration

8:30 AM

Chair’s opening remarks

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

8:40 AM

Keynote interview: Australian innovation in a drawbridge-up world

Australia is one of the world’s most open economies, and has long been an advocate of free trade. But a resurgence in populist nationalism has put globalisation on the back foot and could threaten Australia’s prospects for growth.

Both trade and technology can put people out of jobs. In the past, many have been willing to accept the upheaval if it has meant benefiting from new efficiencies. But the global order has changed; if they are no longer confident of finding new roles, will the next generation of displaced workers be so accepting? And to what extent will “technonationalism” affect Australia’s international position in exporting innovation?

Julie Bishop

Minister for foreign affairs, Australia

Julie Bishop

Minister for foreign affairs, Australia

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

9:05 AM

Australia’s Asian future: bright or bleak?

Larry Marshall

Chief executive, CSIRO

Larry Marshall

Chief executive, CSIRO

Larry Marshall is chief executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst. For almost a century, CSIRO has translated excellent science into profound impact for the benefit of all Australians and the world. This impact has come in the form of fast Wi-Fi, plastic banknotes, extended-wear contact lenses and Aerogard insect repellent, just to name a few.
Dr Marshall is a scientist, technology innovator and business leader with a wealth of experience in creating new value and impact with science. He began his career in the US, licensing his work with lasers to create a range of health-care solutions in ophthalmology. He has held senior leadership positions, including as founder and as CEO, at companies in biotechnology, photonics, telecommunications and semiconductors, including Light Solutions, Iridex, Iriderm, Lightbit, Translucent, AOC, Intersymbol and Arasor. He was managing director of Southern Cross Ventures, an early-stage venture-capital firm based in Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Sydney, specialising in growing Australian technology companies in Asia and the US.
He has produced more than 100-peer reviewed publications and conference papers, holds 20 patents, and has served on 20 boards of high-tech companies operating in the US, Australia and China. He received his PhD in physics at Macquarie University, completing part of it while studying at Stanford University in the US.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

9:20 AM

Rotating exchange: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Australia wants to sell its ideas instead of just its commodities. Yet R&D spending, as a percentage of GDP, is at its lowest since 1978.

How can the private sector work with academia to develop and commercialise new technologies? How can venture capital and other sources of investment collaborate with key stakeholders? And, given that countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan spend up to eight times as much as Australia on R&D, proportional to their GDP, how can the country compete?

The Economist Events’ moderator will start the session by interviewing a panellist who will, in turn, begin a conversation with the panellist to their left. The session will rotate until the moderator is fielding the questions.

Flavia Tata Nardini

Chief executive officer, Fleet Space Technologies

Flavia Tata Nardini

Chief executive officer, Fleet Space Technologies

Space engineer Flavia Tata Nardini began her career at the European Space Agency before joining TNO to apply her technical knowledge to advanced space-propulsion engineering projects. In 2015, she co-founded Fleet to solve the issue facing businesses globally over the next decade: how to connect the more than 75bn connected devices expected to come online over the next decade, simply and cheaply.

Joanna Batstone

Chief technology officer, Australia and New Zealand, IBM

Joanna Batstone

Chief technology officer, Australia and New Zealand, IBM

Joanna Batstone has held numerous technical and executive leadership roles in IBM's services and software businesses in the US and Europe. More than half of her career in IBM has been in research: she was a director at the TJ Watson Research Center in New York and now is the vice-president and lab director for IBM Research in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Batstone is also the chief technology officer for IBM A/NZ.
She has published over 80 papers, organised many industry conference symposia and is a popular keynote speaker at events around the world. Most recently, Dr Batstone was announced as honorary enterprise professor at the University of Melbourne. She is a member of the Innovation Expert Panel for the government of Victoria and serves on the advisory board of the NSW Data Analytics Centre.
Dr Batstone received a BSc in chemical physics and a PhD in physics from the University of Bristol, UK.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

9:50 AM

Keynote interview: Australia’s position in the global economy

Mathias Cormann

Minister for finance, Australia

Mathias Cormann

Minister for finance, Australia

Mathias Cormann has been the minister for finance since September 2013. He also appointed as the deputy leader of the government in the Senate in September 2015. He has represented the state of Western Australia in the Senate since June 2007.

In opposition, Mr Cormann held the positions of shadow parliamentary secretary for health administration (2008–09), shadow minister for employment participation, apprenticeships and training (2009–10), and shadow assistant treasurer, shadow minister for financial services and superannuation (2010–13). He also chaired the Senate Select Committees on Fuel and Energy (2008–10) and the Scrutiny of New Taxes (2010–11).

He has worked as a ministerial chief of staff to WA state government ministers, as senior adviser to then Western Australian Premier Richard Court and as an adviser to then Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison. Between 2003 and 2007 he worked for major Western Australian health insurer HBF in a range of senior management roles, including as general manager, HealthGuard, and as general manager of HBF Health Insurance.

Having joined the Liberal party in Western Australia in 1996, Mr Cormann was elected senior vice-president of the Perth division in 2000, state vice-president in 2003 and state senior vice-president in 2004, a responsibility he fulfilled until March 2008.

Before migrating to Perth from Belgium, Mr Cormann graduated in law from the University of Leuven.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

10:15 AM

Networking break

10:40 AM

Panel discussion: Breaking through the looking glass

In the Global Gender Gap Report 2016, issued by the World Economic Forum, Australia ranked 48th in a field of 144. There are more listed Australian companies run by men named John, Peter or David than by women.

In a country known for its economic openness and tolerance, how can this be the case? What are the cultural, social and organisational barriers to female equality in Australian business? How are pioneering female entrepreneurs driving change? And how does Australia compare with its Southeast Asian and Chinese counterparts in cultivating an environment that gives rise to innovative, female-led firms?

The session will begin with a 10 minute TED-style presentation from Pocket Sun, managing partner and founder of SoGal Ventures.

Kate Morris

Founder and chief executive officer, Adore Beauty

Kate Morris

Founder and chief executive officer, Adore Beauty

Carrie Law

Chief executive, Juwai.com

Carrie Law

Chief executive, Juwai.com

Pocket Sun

Founding partner, SoGal Ventures

Pocket Sun

Founding partner, SoGal Ventures

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

11:25 AM

Keynote interview

Scott Morrison

Treasurer, Australia

Scott Morrison

Treasurer, Australia

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

11:45 AM

In conversation: Insights from Asia

In this session, an Asia-based senior executive will argue why countries around the region are better placed than Australia to win the “innovation race”.

Girish Ramachandran

President, Asia-Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services

Girish Ramachandran

President, Asia-Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services

As president of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Asia Pacific, Girish Ramachandran is responsible for business operations in 12 countries in the regions of Australia and New Zealand, ASEAN, Greater China and Korea. Mr Ramachandran is based in Singapore, the headquarters of TCS Asia Pacific, where he oversees over 25,000 employees covering the region.
Mr Ramachandran joined TCS in 1994 and has held a number of key portfolios in the organisation. Prior to TCS Asia Pacific, he served as corporate vice-president in the CEO’s office at TCS House in Mumbai, where he was responsible for global strategic business initiatives. Before that, he was head of TCS Europe (nine years), and TCS Middle East, Africa and Mediterranean (two years), where he grew the business multifold and was instrumental in developing many key customer relationships with leading global brands. Other roles have included head of the company’s business-intelligence practice worldwide as well as executive sponsor of numerous global customer relationships.
Mr Ramachandran serves on a number of executive boards, including at the Europe-India Institute and the International Business Foundation Amsterdam. He is chairman of the Benelux chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry and a board member of Kooh Sports.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer technology from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, and a master’s degree in management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. He is a recipient of the Frans Banninck Cocq Medal from the mayor of Amsterdam. He is a frequent guest lecturer at universities across Europe and Asia Pacific.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

12:05 PM

Australia v Asia: Finance disrupted

According to EY, a consultancy, one in five fintech businesses in Australia expects revenue to grow more than 500% over the next year. The country has a favourable regulatory environment, a growing pool of capital and an eager consumer base. Australia’s financial-services powerhouses all support the development of fintech.

Yet China’s internet finance sector, according to McKinsey, was worth $2 trillion at the end of 2015. In India, innovative companies are leapfrogging traditional payment methods at a rapid rate. How can Australia compete?

The session will open with a one-on-one interview with the minister of revenue and financial services.

Kelly O’Dwyer

Assistant treasurer and minister for revenue and financial services, Australia

Kelly O’Dwyer

Assistant treasurer and minister for revenue and financial services, Australia

Greg Moshal

Founder and joint chief executive officer, Prospa

Greg Moshal

Founder and joint chief executive officer, Prospa

Simon Cant

Managing director, Reinventure Group

Simon Cant

Managing director, Reinventure Group

Simon Cant is co-founder and managing partner of Reinventure. Founded in 2013, Reinventure is a corporate venture fund with $100m under management, bringing together the best of independent venture capital and corporate venturing with Westpac as the primary investor. To date, the portfolio has 16 ventures focused on fintech and adjacent areas.
Mr Cant is also the founding president of FinTech Australia, the industry’s peak representative body, and a member of the treasurer’s FinTech Advisory Group.
Mr Cant has built his career in venture and innovation, including advising companies such as Westpac, NAB, Suncorp, Fairfax, News APN and Tennis Australia as well as being a founding team member at Social Ventures Australia, Tinshed Angel Group and ninemsn.

Gerard Florian

Group executive, technology, ANZ

Gerard Florian

Group executive, technology, ANZ

Gerard Florian has been group executive technology at ANZ since January 2017. Mr Florian is responsible for defining ANZ’s technology strategy and building and managing ANZ’s technology infrastructure. This includes overseeing the development of new technologies, implementing existing technologies to help the bank reach its strategic goals, and creating systems and processes to make the best use of ANZ’s resources. He has also been a member of ANZ’s technology and digital business advisory panel since it was established in 2015.
Mr Florian has worked in technology for more than 30 years. He was previously chief strategy officer for the global cloud business unit at Dimension Data, where he was instrumental in the establishment of a portfolio of cloud-enabled managed services operating on a global platform. Prior to that, he was chief technology officer and chief marketing officer for Dimension Data’s Australian division.

Robert Milliken

Correspondent, The Economist

Robert Milliken

Correspondent, The Economist

Robert Milliken is The Economist’s Australia correspondent, based in Sydney. He writes for the paper on Australian politics and the economy, and a broad range of issues including foreign policy, energy, climate, conservation and immigration, as well as for The Economist’s online Asia blog and for its annual publication The World In. Mr Milliken also contributes to the current affairs online publication Inside Story.

1:00 PM

Networking lunch break

2:00 PM

To biotech and beyond

According to Australasian Biotechnology, a scientific journal, the market capitalisation of Australian life-science companies is $94 billion. Investment in early-stage companies and clinical trials is healthy, and the sector has a bright future—but it faces stiff competition. America, France, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, Germany and Denmark all invest more in life-science industries than Australia does, according to the OECD.

How can investors, businesses, policymakers and academics collaborate to create a globally competitive biotech industry? And how can the private sector develop technologies that give the industry a competitive advantage in Asia?

Alan Mackay-Sim

Emeritus professor, Griffith University and 2017 Australian of the Year

Alan Mackay-Sim

Emeritus professor, Griffith University and 2017 Australian of the Year

Alan Mackay-Sim is a neuroscientist and stem cell scientist. His research career has focused on how the sensory neurons in the nose are replaced and regenerated from stem cells. He is a world leader in spinal cord injury research. He led the Brisbane team in a world-first clinical trial in which the patient’s own olfactory cells were transplanted into their injured spinal cord in the first stages of a therapy to treat human paraplegia. ProfessorMackay-Sim established the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research in 2006. He developed an adult stem cell bank from over 300 people with different neurological conditions including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, mitochondrial mutation disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegia, ataxia telangiectasia and motor neuron disease. These stem cells are used to identify the biological bases of neurological diseases using genomics, proteomics and cell function assays, and this work is leading to new drug therapies. He was named 2017 Australian of the Year.

Jan Janssen

Senior vice-president, design and development, Cochlear

Jan Janssen

Senior vice-president, design and development, Cochlear

Jan Janssen leads a team of over 300 highly qualified engineers and scientists who implement Cochlear’s R&D strategy. This includes responsibility for identifying and developing cutting-edge technologies and commercial products. Mr Janssen joined Cochlear in 2000 as head of the Cochlear Technology Centre based in Belgium. He previously worked with Philips Electronics, where he was involved in R&D in the fields of high-tech electronics and cochlear implants. He was promoted to senior vice-president, design and development, in 2005.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

2:30 PM

Australia’s future “hayday”

Technology is changing the foundations of Australian agriculture. Australian farms are slowly adopting driverless tractors, crop monitoring and other innovations. Digital solutions offer great potential for growth. But to compete effectively, such businesses must also find ways to brand their products and promote the “made in Australia” message to buyers abroad.

How can innovation give Australia an advantage in food exports, against South Africa, South America and the United States? What are the skills required to infuse agriculture with new technology and digital solutions? How should Australian businesses such as winemakers and cattle farmers brand their products to give Asian buyers a sense of what it is to buy Australian? And how can Australian agritech capitalise on the growth of automation on Asian farms?

Wendy Umberger

Professor, agricultural and food economics, The University of Adelaide

Wendy Umberger

Professor, agricultural and food economics, The University of Adelaide

Wendy Umberger is the foundation executive director of the Centre for Global Food and Resources at the University of Adelaide. She was the 2016–17 president of the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. She is a fellow of Food Standards Australia New Zealand and serves on the governance board of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics and the editorial board of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. Her behavioural-economics research uses innovative methods to understand drivers and implications of changing consumer and producer behaviour on food systems. She is also studying the impact of urbanisation, modern retail transformation and development programmes on food consumption patterns, diet quality, and longer-run health and livelihood implications across Australasia. Ms Umberger holds a BS in animal science (1996) and an MS in economics (1998) from South Dakota State University and a PhD in agricultural economics (2001) from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Mark Palmquist

Managing director and chief executive, Graincorp

Mark Palmquist

Managing director and chief executive, Graincorp

Peter Nathan

Chief executive, Asia-Pacific, The a2 Milk Company

Peter Nathan

Chief executive, Asia-Pacific, The a2 Milk Company

Peter Nathan joined the Group in 2007 and took on the role of chief executive of the Australia and New Zealand region for The a2 Milk Company in 2010. In 2017 his responsibilities were expanded to include management of the group’s business in China as well as Australia and New Zealand. During his time with the company, Mr Nathan has led the successful re-launch of a2MC-branded milk in the Australian market, which was subsequently globalised, and also the successful launch of the a2 Platinum® infant-formula brand. He has over 25 years’ experience working in the FMCG industry. Mr Nathan has previously held senior marketing and sales roles for Gillette and Colgate-Palmolive in Australia and Asia and was general manager of Freedom Foods Group.

Sarah Adam-Gedge

Managing director and corporate vice-president, Avanade Australia

Sarah Adam-Gedge

Managing director and corporate vice-president, Avanade Australia

As managing director and corporate vice-president of Avanade Australia, Sarah Adam-Gedge leads a consulting business dedicated to digital innovations that realise results for Avanade’s clients and their customers through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem. Ms Adam-Gedge is fascinated by the impact of new technologies not only in problem solving and enabling opportunities but also in how innovation affects the next generation of workplace. Her vast professional-services executive leadership experience, extends across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America at the highest levels, has prepared her for a fulfilling, fast paced and growing role. She is passionate about developing her team, organisational capability and trail blazing with applying the new for specific outcomes. Ms Adam-Gedge is a currently non-executive director of Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

3:15 PM

Networking break

3:45 PM

Keynote interview: Innovative to the core

The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts that China is heading for a hard landing in 2018. Commodity prices are in stagnation and oil prices remain uncertain. Australia’s core industries face daunting competition from Asia’s resource-rich countries that have lower cost-structures. How can Australia use innovation in its core industries, so that it can maintain its competitiveness in selling its ores, gases and oils to the region?

Peter Coleman

Managing director and chief executive officer, Woodside Energy

Peter Coleman

Managing director and chief executive officer, Woodside Energy

Peter Coleman has 33 years’ experience in the global oil and gas industry, covering Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australasia. Mr Coleman has been managing director and chief executive officer of Woodside since joining the company in May 2011. He began his career with Exxon and stayed with the company until joining Woodside.
Mr Coleman is chairman of the Australia-Korea Foundation, chairman of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations and adviser to the Asia Society. He is a member of the board of the University of Western Australia Business School and of the executive committee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Council, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australia-India Chief Executive Officers’ Forum and Monash Engineering Foundation.
Mr Coleman graduated with a bachelor of engineering from Monash University in 1983 and has a master of business administration from Deakin University. He has completed advanced management training at the University of Virginia, Thunderbird Management School and Columbia University.

Robert Milliken

Correspondent, The Economist

Robert Milliken

Correspondent, The Economist

Robert Milliken is The Economist’s Australia correspondent, based in Sydney. He writes for the paper on Australian politics and the economy, and a broad range of issues including foreign policy, energy, climate, conservation and immigration, as well as for The Economist’s online Asia blog and for its annual publication The World In. Mr Milliken also contributes to the current affairs online publication Inside Story.

4:05 PM

Panel discussion: The future of Australia’s innovation-led economy

Throughout the day we will have heard from entrepreneurs from Asia make the case for their respective countries. In this session, Australia’s most innovative business leaders will discuss how the country can export its innovation to the wider region, how the country is in a unique position to do so, and how it can overcome the barriers of succeeding in Asia.

Daniel Petre

Co-founder, AirTree Ventures

Daniel Petre

Co-founder, AirTree Ventures

Don Meij

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

Don Meij

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

4:35 PM

Wrap-up and closing remarks

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

Venue

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney places you among the city’s vibrant shopping and business precincts, and next to the popular historic Rocks district and harbour side Circular Quay. Take in dramatic views of Sydney Harbour, indulge in spa treatments, relax by the pool, enjoy authentic Australian dining, and discover local wine and boutique beer at the award-winning bar.

Four Seasons Hotel

Sponsors

Platinum sponsor

ANZ

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) has a banking heritage spanning more than 180 years in Australia and New Zealand. With an established on the ground presence in 15 Asian markets, we connect clients to opportunities centred around trade, investment and capital flows into and within Asia Pacific.

App sponsor

App sponsor

Avanade

Avanade is the leading provider of innovative digital, cloud, business solutions and design-led experiences delivered through our 30,000 strong professionals powered by expertise of the Microsoft ecosystem. We bring bold, fresh thinking to fuelling transformation and growth for our clients and their customers.

Supporting associations

Supporting organisation

The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia

As the voice of international business interests, throughout Australia and the US in particular, AmCham’s story has always revolved around its members, and our ability to provide them with invaluable access to opportunity. It’s a story of connectivity. Our members include CEOs, executives and professionals of all ages, and from all walks of business. Our strong and supportive network provides them with up-to-date information, unparalleled access to opportunities, a robust business events program, a diverse membership database, and a voice to potentially shape Government policy.

Supporting organisation

Australian Institute of International Affairs

Supporting organisation

The Australia Japan Society of NSW

The Australia Japan Society of NSW Incorporated was founded in Sydney in 1968.The co-patrons of the Society are The Premier of New South Wales and The Consul General of Japan in Sydney. The Society has close links with The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Japanese Society of Sydney, JET Alumni Association and other “Japan-focused” organisations.The Society brings the Australian and Japanese business communities together for regular functions with guest speakers who are leaders in commerce, industry, politics and government. The Society holds a business, social or cultural function each month and publishes a regular newsletter, Tomodachi.The Society organises and co-operates in many cultural events which aim to introduce Japanese members to Australia’s vibrant and diverse cultural scene while at the same time introducing Australian members to aspects of the unique culture of Japan.AJS-NSW also supports the study of Japanese language and culture in NSW through awards and other activities.

Supporting organisation

The Australian Financial Markets Association

The Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA) represents participants in Australia’s financial markets. AFMA promotes well-targeted policy, common industry standards and professionalism in the conduct of business, which enable the financial markets to effectively support Australia’s economic performance.

Supporting organisation

Export Council of Australia

The Export Council of Australia (ECA) has a long, proud history of supporting Australian international business. For the past 60 years we have encouraged, educated and assisted Australian companies to take on the world.The ECA has the development of Australia’s resources via the promotion of Australian industry in international markets as our primary goal. We achieve this goal by:

Developing international business skills

Building Australian business capacity

Conducting international market research

Helping to break down barriers to trade

Building global networks

Informing Australian trade policy

Supporting organisation

FINSIA

FINSIA is the only professional membership body that represents the entire financial services industry across Australasia.With over 10,000 active members, FINSIA recognises the current challenges facing financial services, the appetite for change and the need for a professional industry body like FINSIA to help restore pride and trust in the financial services community.FINSIA’s new mission is to help grow deep trust in financial services by raising the standards of professionalism - representing advancement of competence and integrity for the benefit of professionals, consumers and society.FINSIA is the connector working with key stakeholders, industry, regulators, government and education providers to provide the right qualifications and raise standards of competency, culture and conduct. This will enable practitioners to have a sense of pride for being a professional within the financial services sector.Becoming a FINSIA member demonstrates valuable commitment to the financial services industry and the FINSIA community. Be a part of the change with FINSIA.

Supporting organisation

FinTech Australia

FinTech Australia is the leading national, not-for-profit organisation representing members from the Fintech Startup Community - Startups, Hubs, Accelerators and VCs.Working closely with all government bodies, regulators and corporations we exist to advocate on behalf of our members. Together we challenge existing structures to drive policy reform, produce research that promotes best practice and connect all parts of the financial technology eco-system - both within Australia and globally.

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Speaking opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities

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